Kwahu Business Forum sparks push for national mentorship drive for young entrepreneurs
A strong call has emerged for the institutionalisation of mentorship programmes to support young entrepreneurs and drive Ghana’s industrial growth, as stakeholders gathered at the 2026 Kwahu Business Forum in the Eastern Region.
The forum, held at the Kwahu Convention Centre on Friday, brought together business leaders, policymakers, investors and emerging entrepreneurs to deliberate on strategies for expanding local enterprise and tackling unemployment.
Addressing participants, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, underscored the importance of building a resilient economy anchored on value addition, industrialisation and job creation. He emphasised that mentorship must become a central pillar in developing the next generation of Ghanaian business leaders.
“Established business leaders must mentor the next generation of our business leaders. No economy becomes truly strong when success is hoarded,” he said.
“Your forebears walked unpaved roads to build Ghana’s trading networks with little capital, no guarantees, and no industrial parks waiting for them. You have more tools, more capital, more opportunity, and more information than they ever had. The question is what will you do with this opportunity?”
The Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development, Augustus Goosie Tanoh, echoed the call, urging young entrepreneurs to actively seek guidance from experienced industry players while focusing on production and manufacturing.
“Mentorship is not charity. It is how a country reproduces excellence, strengthens institutions, widens opportunities, and builds a sustainable economy of shared prosperity,” Dr Tanoh said.
Deliberations at the forum also highlighted persistent challenges confronting businesses in Ghana. During a panel discussion, participants cited high interest rates, concerns about workforce attitudes and incidents of theft as key constraints affecting productivity and growth.
They noted that local firms often struggle to compete with foreign counterparts that have access to cheaper financing in their home markets, placing Ghanaian enterprises at a structural disadvantage.
A Senior Presidential Advisor on the Economy, Seth Terkper, reinforced the need for structured mentorship systems, stressing that such networks would help deepen local supply chains and ensure that investments translate into meaningful employment opportunities.
